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- MORE LIGHT ON CLOSING OF VIEW ST. 241
CHAPTER XXXVI.
MORE LIGHT ON CLOSING OF VIEW STREET.
I HAD intended to let " View Street " and its closing up in 1858 alone, being content that I had proved that it was understood in 1858 that it reached to Wharf Street, but I have since come upon some interesting evidence bearing upon it and so give it to those old timers whom I am sure will be interested. Firstly, there is to be seen plainly painted on a verandah on a building facing on what was then known as View Street, opposite the Hudson Bay Company's store " View Street," and I also produce an editorial in the Colonist, written by my old friend Amor de Cosmos, November 14, 1859, which proves that it was a burning question at that time and here it is verbatim.
The British Colonist, Printed and Published by Amor
De Cosmos, Wharf Street, East side, between
Yates and View Streets, Victoria, V. I.
Friday, September 9, 1859.
This was cut out of the file that contained the editorial, as further proof. E. FAWCETT.
" We have long been aware that the Hudson's Bay Company claim the ownership of the streets of Victoria. In fact, in 1858 their title was so far asserted as to sell a portion of the street where Johnson and Wharf Streets unite at Victoria bridge.
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" They also shut up one street at the south end of the Fort and opened another a little beyond. Besides this they promised in 1858 to the purchasers of lots on View Street that that street should be opened from Broad to Wharf. Instead of fulfilling their promise like an honest company, that street was actually closed, instead of opened, by blocking up the west end by a large brick police building. It is true that since May last?when the Government reserve between Yates and the block house was seized by the Company, with the consent of His Excellency?a small alley has been opened where View Street ought to be, but even that by some unknown authority, assumed by the Police Commissioners, has been closed to vehicles. That authority will, however, soon be tested, if the obstacle is not speedily removed, as purchasers of lots in the reserve are entitled to its use. Had it not been for our timely exposure of the intentions of the Company, the line of Wharf Street would have been deflected like an elbow, from Reid's corner southerly. The last act, how-ever, of the honorable Hudson's Bay Company, is not only contemptible, but `unjust and oppressive,' al-though His Excellency Governor Douglas, in his des-patch of October 25, 1858, said that the often asserted charge in England that the Company ` had made an unjust and oppressive use of their power in this country,' is altogether unfounded.
" It appears that the agent of the Company sold last week all the trees on our streets to a party for firewood. Mr. Pemberton, Police Commissioner, at the request of some property holders, cut down the two oaks at the corner of Government and Yates Street, but it was no sooner done than Dr. Tuzo presented a bill to him for twenty dollars, ten dollars each. Opposite Mr. Adams'
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